Twenty-four years ago, I was starting my teaching career in a Grade 5 class. After the second month of school, my class was feeling pretty comfortable with me. There was a growing concern on my part about the note passing that was taking place. You remember the notes that were passed between students: “What are [...]
“Sometimes I feel like a porcupine, innocent and curious. I have a big imagination and know how to protect myself.” This is how the small, square book began. I was browsing for First Nations themed books in our wonderful library. By the time I finished this book by Danielle Daniel, I was hooked and had [...]
I spent the better part of this evening (at the time of this writing) watching the Academy Awards with my family. It’s not really a family tradition, but our kids are coming of age where we feel comfortable with them watching it with us and not having to change the channel due to adult content. [...]
Home reading; a valuable part of the school reading program, no doubt. I wholeheartedly support the school in their endeavour to make books come alive and to foster the love of reading, never mind the important skill of being able to read for comprehension, no matter what job you intend to do in the future. [...]
On Friday, February 17, we did our annual pilgrimage from the multi-purpose room at the secondary campus to the middle school gymnasium with literally tons of wood. I will admit that this pilgrimage is not my favourite day of the school year. In one day, we have to organize 25 students to help us move [...]
The room is warm; excitement and the odour of nervous middle schoolers fills the air. Students, wearing a mix of everyday clothing and fairy-tale wear, run back and forth in frantic frenzy between their parents, their classmates, and backstage, to make sure everything is “just right” and in place for their moment on the stage. [...]
The weather we’ve had in the last few weeks is certainly unusual for us here in the lush Fraser Valley. It is fairly common, but not certain, to get at least one snow event in December or January, but to have snow for six or more weeks is nothing like I have experienced in my [...]
On an annual basis, during late January/early February, my father flies all of his boys (3 of us) and a son-in-law out to the Phoenix area for a long weekend of golf. This year was no exception. Not only was it a great weekend of golf with memories that came from this, but it was [...]
Anyone who is a parent has probably been served the odd piece of humble pie. It goes with the territory. I'd be shocked if there is a parent who has made it through their kids' childhood without suffering the humiliation of a public toddler temper tantrum, or a moment of innocent curiosity followed by a [...]
It was once my custom to take the entire Biology 12 class to the Bamfield Marine Station on the desolate west coast of Vancouver Island. The students to experienced first-hand the unspoiled, rugged coastline for which BC is famous. The opportunities to study marine life using the resources of biological station were fantastic and students [...]
